in other words, remoulding the world to suit your own purposes
Denotationally, that seems like a reasonable interpretation. It sets off solipsism warnings in my head, possibly because I know some self-described sollipsists who really are fond of using that kind of phrasing.
However, the speaker could have chosen to say this in a more straightforward way, as you do. Something like “We are an empire now, we have the power to remould parts of the world to better suit our purposes”. And yet, he did not. Why not? This is not a rhetorical question, I’m open to other possible answers, but here’s what I think:
I don’t think it is very controversial that this quote is arguing against “the reality-based community”.
It is trying to give the impression that “acting … to create our own reality” is somehow contradictory to “solutions emerging from your judicious study of discernible reality”. In reality of course, most or all effective attempts at steering reality towards a desired goal are based on “judicious study of discernible reality”. He is trying to give the impression that he (“we, an empire”) can effectively act without consulting, or at least using the methods of, the “reality-based community”. He doesn’t say that denotationally, because it’s false.
I think you are underestimating the importance of being well-informed for being an “agenty mover and shaker”. Look at this guy and these guys for example. Were they “agenty movers and shakers” ? They certainly tried!
Denotationally, that seems like a reasonable interpretation. It sets off solipsism warnings in my head, possibly because I know some self-described sollipsists who really are fond of using that kind of phrasing.
However, the speaker could have chosen to say this in a more straightforward way, as you do. Something like “We are an empire now, we have the power to remould parts of the world to better suit our purposes”. And yet, he did not. Why not? This is not a rhetorical question, I’m open to other possible answers, but here’s what I think:
I don’t think it is very controversial that this quote is arguing against “the reality-based community”. It is trying to give the impression that “acting … to create our own reality” is somehow contradictory to “solutions emerging from your judicious study of discernible reality”. In reality of course, most or all effective attempts at steering reality towards a desired goal are based on “judicious study of discernible reality”. He is trying to give the impression that he (“we, an empire”) can effectively act without consulting, or at least using the methods of, the “reality-based community”. He doesn’t say that denotationally, because it’s false.
Seems to me you’re overthinking the simple difference between being a passive observer and being an agenty mover and shaker.
Or in an old Arab saying, the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
I think you are underestimating the importance of being well-informed for being an “agenty mover and shaker”. Look at this guy and these guys for example. Were they “agenty movers and shakers” ? They certainly tried!
Even the famous Sun Tzu, hardly a passive observer himself, devotes an entire chapter to the importance of being well-informed.